The

The Handbook for the

Bachelor of Design at YorkU

2023 − 2024

DESN
Hand
book
Des gn
at York
2023
2024
2
York Program in Design
Mission Contents

York’s Bachelor of Design program recognizes that design is by Welcome | 4

nature an interdisciplinary endeavour. York Design draws strength
from its home in a robust research university, offering students Program of Study | 5
exposure and collaborative opportunities in areas such as business,
engineering, technology, health and more broadly, the sciences, Degree Requirements | 5
social sciences and humanities. Students in the Department of
Design pursue creative solutions to real-world problems involving Academic Standing | 6
users, their contexts and interactions; design for immersive
experiences and intelligent technologies; and the discovery of new Student Responsibilities | 7
knowledge through the visual presentation of complex information.
Planning Your Studies | 8

Land Acknowledgement BDes Honours Degree Requirements Worksheet | 12

We recognize that many Indigenous nations have longstanding Credit Overview | 13

relationships with the territories upon which York University
campuses are located that precede the establishment of York Program Timetable Planner | 14
University. York University acknowledges its presence on the
traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations. The area known Course Timetable 2023/2024 | 15
as Tkaronto has been care taken by the Anishinabek Nation, the
Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Wendat, and the Métis. It is now Course Descriptions | 17
home to many Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge the current
treaty holders and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. General Information | 23
This territory is subject to the Dish With One Spoon Wampum
Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the Faculty | 26
Great Lakes region.
Program Policy | 28

Studio and Equipment | 28

Essential Information for all DESN Students | 29

Disclaimer | 30
Department of Design
York University Additional Information | 30
4700 Keele Street
4008 Dahdaleh Building Important Dates | 31
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
P: 416 736 5885
F: 416 736 5450
desn@yorku.ca
design.yorku.ca Handbook 2023/2024

3
 Welcome
Welcome to the Department of Design in York University’s School
of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design.
This has been a year of milestones and reminders that endings
make way for fresh beginnings. As we welcome incoming students
to begin their design studies, we bid farewell and celebrate the
graduation of the first cohort of the reimagined York Honours
Bachelor of Design (BDes) known to our community as DESN.
As students, they formed a cohesive and supportive community
of practice. As alumni, they join a global network of York BDes
graduates working throughout the world as designers, researchers,
educators, entrepreneurs and more.
In January, as part of the DesignTO Festival, we mounted an
exhibit of contemporary work by alumni who graduated between
1983-2022. The show featured award-winning projects including
print and cross-platform campaigns, interactive exhibits, motion
reels for advertising and movie titles, user interfaces for web and
app-based retail. Geographically, the work spanned Toronto to
Tokyo, New York City to Silicon Valley.
Throughout the year, Design students demonstrated the broad
range and global scale of their design acumen through experien-
tial opportunities. AMPD’s SaTS Lab supported the work of two
undergraduate students including BDes student, Ben Giannis, to
present their research at the AGE-WELL Annual Conference, the
first undergraduates ever to do so. Massive Action: Global Health
Design was an innovative collaboration between the Department
of Design, the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research and
renowned designer, Bruce Mau. Teams of design students pro-
posed design solutions for major research projects being funded
throughout the world. From empowering youth to fight climate
York Program in Design
DESN Class of 2023
4
change, to informing policy on antimicrobial resistance, ensuring
water safety in humanitarian emergencies, to exploring benefits of
AI for researchers, students demonstrated to the research teams
the value in expanding roles for designers’ impact.
York University was the host site of the 2023 Congress of the
Humanities and Social Sciences, and welcomed over 8,000
delegates to campus. Design was represented through research
presentations by faculty and students, including a pop-up gallery of
graphic designs representing the findings of an international team
of researchers studying notions of risk in LGBTQ2S+ and racialized
young women during the pandemic.
The Department of Design was saddened by the passing of two
of its community members during the past year. Lyle Fraiman led
a successful design firm and was a dedicated instructor. He drew
energy from his students and expressed great pride in their accom-
plishments. Professor Andrew Tomcik was an esteemed professor
at York University for over 25 years and a founding member of the
Department of Design.
Looking forward, we are pleased to announce a new scholarship
for our students, The Underdog Award for Design Excellence.
Established by alumnus Brendan Weaver, (BDes ‘09) the award
will help support the next generation of York Design students in
their academic pursuits.
Angela Norwood
Chair, Department of Design
Program of Study
The Bachelor of Design (Honours) program is a four-year
undergraduate degree that provides a comprehensive design
education. Design at York offers an intensive practice-based
curriculum that reflects the evolving technical, theoretical and
research priorities of the design profession.
Students in the program benefit from small studio classes,
design studies classes and a placement program. The design
studio courses focus on three major areas of design: visual
communication, information design and interaction design.
The design studies courses provide an integrated approach
to design history, theory and criticism.
Honours BDes Major — 2nd Degree Requirements:
Students who hold a degree from an accredited institution may
apply to the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design to obtain
a second undergraduate degree in a different discipline (major).
Students who hold an Ordinary (not Honours) degree in design
from another accredited institution may apply to the School of
Arts, Media, Performance & Design to obtain an Honours degree
in design. Students who hold an honours degree in design from
another institution are not eligible for this program.
In all cases, second degree candidates are required to:
• Complete a minimum of 30 additional credits at York University
in accordance with Senate residency requirements. Courses
taken as part of the first degree cannot be used to satisfy this
requirement
• Fulfill all the requirements of the major program
The in-faculty requirement (39 credits for design majors) must be
regarded as the minimum number of additional courses leading to
a second degree. Depending on the credit awarded for previous
studies, the actual number of courses required for a second degree
in design may exceed that number.
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Design (Honours) Major (120 credits)
....
18 credits General Education
12 credits AMPD electives (must be FA courses but must not be DESN
courses – FA 1900 courses can be used in fulfilling this requirement)
12 credits Free Electives (can be DESN courses)
18 credits Design Studies (must be DESN courses) including:
Design of the 20th Century FA/DESN 1111 3.0
Design in Contemporary Society FA/DESN 2101 3.0
History Palette Elective One of FA/DESN 2111 3.0, FA/DESN 2112 3.0 or FA/DESN 2113 3.0
and an additional 9 credits in Design Studies Electives at the 3000
or 4000 level
54 credits in Design Studio including:
Communication Design Foundation FA/DESN 1001 3.0
Understanding Form and Context FA/DESN 1002 3.0
Typography: Letter and Word FA/DESN 1003 3.0
Drawing for Design FA/DESN 1004 3.0
Visual Interaction Design FA/DESN 1011 3.0
Communication Design Process FA/DESN 2001 3.0
Typography for Publishing Systems FA/DESN 2002 3.0
Designing for Human Interactions FA/DESN 2011 3.0
Prototyping & User-Centred Strategies FA/DESN 2012 3.0
Information Design for Understanding FA/DESN 2021 3.0
Designing for Existing Systems FA/DESN 3001 3.0
Designing for Future Systems FA/DESN 3002 3.0
Designing for Visual Complexity (Formerly Design Inquiry) FA/DESN 3005 3.0
Degree Project FA/DESN 4000 6.0
and an additional 9 credits in Design Studio Electives at the 3000 or
4000 level
6 credits in Professional Practice including:
Design Placement FA/DESN 3201 3.0
Degree Exhibit FA/DESN 4201 1.5
Professional Practices in Design FA/DESN 4202 1.5
Note: Six credits from the FA/1900 3.00 series of courses, outside of
the major, are required of all School of the Arts, Media, Performance &
Design degrees. These courses can be counted as Humanities, Free
Elective or AMPD Elective but cannot be counted more than once.
For students admitted to the School of the Arts, Media, Performance
& Design with a minimum of 54 transfer credits, the 6 credits from the
FA/1900 3.00 series of courses outside the major are optional.
Handbook 2023/2024
5
 Academic Standing Advanced Standing

Students admitted to the York Program in Design are required Students admitted to the York Program in Design, that have
to maintain a Major Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 and an attended another post-secondary institution may be granted credits
Overall Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 in order to continue towards their degree. It is possible that not all credits awarded may
in and graduate with an Honours degree. A student whose be applicable to the degree program. Because of the prerequisite
Cumulative Grade Point Average falls below 5.0 (C+) during the structure of the program, students may not be able to take as many
course of his or her studies may proceed in an Honours program, design courses in each of their years of study in the program. In this
on warning, provided the year level progression requirements set case, students may take courses outside of design for which they
out below are met: are eligible, in order to maximize the program fee which they must
pay each year. Advanced standing students may need to complete
Major Cumulative three to four full years of study to complete the York Program in
Credits Grade Point Overall Grade Design. Design students with advanced standing must make an
Year Level Completed Average Point Average
appointment with the Office of Advising and Student Integrated
Year 1 fewer than 24 credits 5.0 4.0 Services (OAISS) to review their study plan for the completion of
Year 2 24 to 53 credits 5.0 4.2 the BDes Honours degree.
Year 3 54 to 83 credits 5.0 4.8
Year 4 84 5.0 5.0

Visiting Students

DESN students whose Overall and/or Major GPAs fall below the
requirements listed above must submit a “Change My Program
Request” form to enter a BA degree program if they wish to Student, you either:
continue their studies at York.
Students who have received the academic decision to exit
the program will not be able to enrol in courses for the
Fall/Winter session.
Dean’s Honour Roll:
The Dean’s Honour Roll recognizes the academic achievements of
the following:
• Students who have taken 12 to 17 credits: in a given session, who
have achieved a Sessional Overall GPA of 8.0 or higher.
• Students who have taken 18 or more credits: in a given session,
who have achieved a Sessional Overall GPA of 7.5 or higher.
• Graduating students who have achieved Overall and Major GPAs
of 7.0 or higher.
....
You’re a Visiting Student if you want to take credit courses at York
but aren’t seeking a degree or certificate. To qualify as a Visiting
1. Currently attend another university and want to take York
University courses on a Letter of Permission.
2. Already hold an undergraduate degree (three-year
Bachelor’s degree minimum) from an accredited university/
university-level institution.
3. Do not hold an undergraduate degree from any university
but want to enrol in York courses to fulfil the academic,
upgrading or professional development requirements of a
professional designation.
Further information available at:
futurestudents.yorku.ca/requirements/visiting.

Graduation Honours:
York Program in Design students with the following grade point
averages, both in their major discipline and overall, will have their
degrees classified as Bachelor of Design (Honours):
7.50 cum laude
7.80 magna cum laude
8.00 summa cum laude
York Program in Design

6
Student Responsibilities
All course work is to be submitted directly to the course instructor
during scheduled course hours. Do not submit work to the
Department of Design Administrative Offices. Students should
refer to the University Calendar for the proper process of applying
for Deferred Standing or requesting Aegrotat Standing, if such
is applicable.
York University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs
and practices of all members of the community, and making
accommodations for observances of special significance to
adherents. Should any of the sessional and/or course-related dates
pose such a conflict for you, contact the Course Director within
the first two weeks of class. Similarly, should any coursework such
as assignments scheduled later in the term pose such a conflict,
contact the Course Director immediately.
It is the responsibility of the student to inform the Course
Director, in a timely fashion, of any problems that may interfere
with the student’s progress in the course.
It is the responsibility of the student to always back-up/save/
archive digital work.
It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand
York’s policy on proper use of computer facilities. The policy is
found at: secretariat-policies.info.yorku.ca/
Course Outline
It is the student’s responsibility to read the course outline and consult
faculty to ensure they understand policies for particular courses.
Code of Conduct
It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand York’s
Code of Conduct policies: oscr.students.yorku.ca
Computing
The issue of intellectual property is particularly significant
for designers, who will spend their careers generating IP and
working with the IP of clients, illustrators, photographers and
colleagues. Computing and access are not a right, but a privilege,
according to university policy. Students have a duty and a
responsibility to act ethically and professionally in order to retain
that privilege, as we cannot possibly police all student activity.
Any students found abusing this privilege, by misusing facilities or
illegally downloading materials, will face potentially severe penalties,
outlined in the policies of York.
Special Learning Accommodations/Preferences
Students who require special accommodations for learning course
content and/or completing course work are encouraged to self-
identify within a reasonable time frame and should work closely with
the Course Director to develop processes to improve the course
experience.
Occupational Health and Safety
Students must be aware of ergonomic factors related to the course
work and should practice recommended exercises to prevent
developing occupational related health problems.
Academic Honesty
Please refer to the York Senate Policy on Academic Honesty
(yorku.ca/secretariat/policies) for a discussion of academic honesty
and definitions of breach of academic honesty. Among other
things, the Senate Policy discusses offenses such as cheating,
submission of one piece of work in satisfaction of two assignments
without prior informed consent, impersonation, plagiarism and other
misappropriation of the work of others, obstruction of the academic
activities of another, aiding or abetting academic misconduct, etc.
In particular, students taking design courses should be mindful of
the dangers of misappropriation and misrepresentation of another
person’s image(s).
In the creation and presentation of all design studio works,
students who use the work of others must clearly state the
extent and nature of the appropriation to their instructor prior to
submission. Credit information identifying the originator and/or
source may be required. Failure to do so will constitute a breach of
academic honesty. It may, in addition, be a breach of copyright
law and/or any one of the four provisions of the Berne convention.
Penalties for breach of academic honesty may include:
• a failure in the course
• failure in the course plus a notation of breach of academic
honesty on the official transcript, or
• suspension from York University.
SPARK -Student Papers and Academic Research Kit
yorku.ca/spark/academic_integrity
This resource is to help students understand academic integrity.
Learning Skills
The School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design encourages
students to develop their study skills. If you wish to enhance your
academic record, you might participate in these resources:
The Learning Skills Program
lss.info.yorku.ca
This program offers group workshops and individual counselling on
the topics of reading, note taking, time management and preparing
for exams.
The Writing Centre
writing-centre.writ.laps.yorku.ca
This centre offers practical instruction in all aspects of academic
writing. Specialized tutors are also available to work with ESL
students, and students who have disabilities affecting language
learning and language skills.
Room: S311 Ross
416 736 5134 | lapswrit@yorku.ca
Handbook 2023/2024
7
 Planning Your Studies

The curriculum reflects our commitment to enriched areas of
concentration within the York Program in Design that are identified
as our core strengths: Visual Communication, Information,
Interaction and Design Studies. There are courses in each of these
areas in which students can develop their interests and define their
career paths.
The degree requirements help to guide your areas of focus
within the program. If students have difficulties fulfilling these
requirements they should consult The Office of Advising and
Integrated Student Services for individual advising based on
the requirements when they entered the program.
The Handbook is intended to provide support and
recommendations for students currently enrolled in the York
Program in Design as to how to proceed through their studies
and help them choose the best courses to meet their needs. The
subsequent section titled “Course Descriptions” (page 17) lists
the prerequisite courses required as well as options available in a
specific year.

1st Year Bachelor of Design (Honours)

....

Note: Not all courses in the Design curriculum may be offered each year.

Students admitted to the York Program in Design are required Always seek academic advising before dropping courses!
to maintain a Major Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 and an Never drop a required course without consultation and academic
Overall Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 in order to continue in advising from the Office of Advising and Student Integrated
and graduate with an Honours degree. Services (OAISS). There may be serious academic penalties in
terms of not having the required course(s) necessary to continue
Required courses for 1st year Design majors to the next level of study.
FA/DESN 1001 3.0 Communication Design Foundation
FA/DESN 1002 3.0 Understanding Form and Context
FA/DESN 1003 3.0 Typography: Letter and Word
FA/DESN 1004 3.0 Drawing for Design
FA/DESN 1011 3.0 Visual Interaction Design
FA/DESN 1111 3.0 Design of the 20th Century

Required courses for all School of the Arts, Media,

Performance & Design majors
Six credits from the FA/1900 3.00 series of courses, outside of the
major, are required of all School of the Arts, Media, Performance
& Design degrees. These courses can be counted as Humanities,
Free Elective or Fine Arts Elective but cannot be counted more
than once. For students admitted to the School of the Arts, Media,
Performance & Design with a minimum of 54 transfer credits, the
6 credits from the FA/1900 3.0 series of courses outside the major
are optional.

Beware of Overloading!
You are advised to take a maximum of 3 studio courses in each
of the Fall or Winter terms. Overloading of studio courses does
not allow you to produce your best work; having 3 strong portfolio
projects is better than 4 mediocre ones. Many students utilize the
Spring and Summer sessions to spread coursework over the full year.

Your General Education Requirements: a tip

It is recommended that you complete your 3 General Education
Requirements (one each of Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural
York Program in Design

Sciences) within your first two years of study. One way to achieve
this is to take 2 General Education courses in your first year.

8
 2nd Year Bachelor of Design (Honours)
....

Note: Not all courses in the Design curriculum may be offered each year.

Students admitted to the York Program in Design are required Interaction Focus
to maintain a Major Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 and an If you are intending to focus your studio coursework in Interaction
Overall Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 in order to continue in Design, you may enrol in FA/DATT 1939 3.0 Making Interactive New
and graduate with an Honours degree. Media Art.

Required courses for 2nd year Design majors Always seek academic advising before dropping courses!
FA/DESN 2001 3.0 Communication Design Process Never drop a required course without consultation and academic
FA/DESN 2002 3.0 Typography for Publishing Systems advising from the Office of Advising and Student Integrated
FA/DESN 2011 3.0 Designing for Human Interactions Services (OAISS). There may be serious academic penalties in
FA/DESN 2012 3.0 Prototyping & User-Centred Strategies terms of not having the required course(s) necessary to continue to
FA/DESN 2021 3.0 Information Design for Understanding the next level of study.

Design History Requirements

FA/DESN 2101 3.0 Design in Contemporary Society
The course listed above is required of all Design majors. To fulfill the
remaining 3 credits in the 6 credit History requirement, select one of the
courses below. These courses may alternate from one year to the next
but will be offered in the winter term only.

FA/DESN 2111 3.0 History & Development of Western Typography

FA/DESN 2112 3.0 Evolution of Information Design
FA/DESN 2113 3.0 History & Culture of Interaction Design

Optional Studies courses available to 2nd year majors

FA/DESN 2102 3.0 Design and Inuit Cultural Products
(Formerly Design and Inuit Cultural Artifacts)

Required courses for all School of the Arts, Media,

Performance & Design majors
FA/1900 3.0 6 credits outside of major
Complete this requirement if not taken in your first year.

Beware of Overloading!
You are advised to take a maximum of 3 studio courses in each
of the Fall or Winter terms. Overloading of studio courses does
not allow you to produce your best work; having 3 strong portfolio
projects is better than 4 mediocre ones. Many students utilize the
Spring and Summer sessions to spread coursework over the
full year.

Your General Education Requirements: a tip

It is recommended that you complete your 3 General Education
Requirements (one each of Humanities, Social Sciences and
Natural Sciences) within your first two years of study. Complete any
outstanding General Education requirements by the end of your
second year.
You are advised to tentatively plot out your preferred course
Handbook 2023/2024

selection for your final years in the York Program in Design at this
time to ensure that you will have the proper prerequisites prior to
your next year of study.

9
 Planning Your Studies (continued from page 9)

3rd Year Bachelor of Design (Honours)

....

Note: Not all courses in the Design curriculum may be offered each year.

Students admitted to the York Program in Design are required Interaction Focus
to maintain a Major Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 and an If you are intending to focus your studio coursework in Interaction
Overall Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 in order to continue in Design, you may enrol in FA/DATT 1939 3.0 Making Interactive
and graduate with an Honours degree. New Media Art.

Required courses for 3rd year Design majors Always seek academic advising before dropping courses!
FA/DESN 3001 3.0 Designing for Existing Systems Never drop a required course without consultation and academic
FA/DESN 3002 3.0 Designing for Future Systems advising from the Office of Advising and Student Integrated
FA/DESN 3005 3.0 Designing for Visual Complexity (formerly Design Inquiry) Services (OAISS). There may be serious academic penalties in
FA/DESN 3201 3.0 Design Placement terms of not having the required course(s) necessary to continue
to the next level of study.
Optional Design courses available to 3rd year majors
Visual Communication Design Studio Courses
FA/DESN 3003 3.0 Motion Design
FA/DESN 3004 3.0 Package Design
FA/DESN 4003 3.0 Design Lab
FA/DESN 4004 3.0 Another Design Lab

Information Design Studio Courses

FA/DESN 3021 3.0 Typography for Information Design
FA/DESN 3022 3.0 Information Mapping and Networks

Interaction Design Studio Courses

FA/DESN 3012 3.0 Generative Design

Design Studies Courses

FA/DESN 3121 3.0 Understanding Design in a Global Context
FA/DESN 3122 3.0 Design Advocacy

Beware of Overloading!
You are advised to take a maximum of 3 studio courses in each of the
Fall or Winter terms. Overloading of studio courses does not allow
you to produce your best work; having 3 strong portfolio projects is
better than 4 mediocre ones. Many students utilize the Spring and
Summer Sessions to spread coursework over the full year.

The Importance of Course Selection

The courses you select in your third year will significantly influence
the courses you are eligible to take in your fourth year. Now is the
time to review the Degree Requirements Worksheet in the York
Program in Design Handbook to ensure that you are fulfilling all the
appropriate degree requirements.
This is your responsibility! You are advised to tentatively plot your
preferred course selection for your final years in the York Program
in Design at this time to ensure that you will have the proper
prerequisites prior to your next year of study. After filling out the
Degree Requirements Worksheet, (with careful attention to degree
York Program in Design

requirements, prerequisites, co-requisites, etc.), if you have any

additional questions, please make an advising appointment with the
Office of Advising and Student Integrated Services (OAISS).

10
 4th Year Bachelor of Design (Honours)
....

Note: Not all courses in the Design curriculum may be offered each year.

Students admitted to the York Program in Design are required Always seek academic advising before dropping courses!
to maintain a Major Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 and an Never drop a required course without consultation and academic
Overall Grade Point Average of at least 5.0 in order to continue advising from the Office of Advising and Student Integrated
in and graduate with an Honours degree. Services (OAISS). There may be serious academic penalties in
terms of not having the required course(s) necessary to continue
Required courses for 4th year Design majors to the next level of study.
FA/DESN 4000 6.0 Degree Project
FA/DESN 4201 1.5 Degree Exhibit
FA/DESN 4202 1.5 Professional Practices in Design

Optional Design courses available to 4th year majors

Visual Communication Design Studio Courses
FA/DESN 4001 3.0 Branding and Identity Systems
FA/DESN 4002 3.0 Publication Design

Information Design Studio Courses

FA/DESN 4021 3.0 Visual Analytics
FA/DESN 4022 3.0 Data Visualization Design

Interaction Design Studio Courses

FA/DESN 4011 3.0 Interactive Objects and Environments
FA/DESN 4012 3.0 Advanced Topics in Interaction Design

Other Design Studio Courses

FA/DESN 4003 3.0 Design Lab
FA/DESN 4004 3.0 Another Design Lab

Design Studies Courses

FA/DESN 4101 3.0 East Asian Design History in Transnational Perspectives
FA/DESN 4102 3.0 Unpacking the Interface
FA/DESN 4103 3.0 Histories of Designed Things: Products, Artefacts, Trash
FA/DESN 4121 3.0 Building a Discipline
FA/DESN 4122 3.0 Design for Creative Entrepreneurship
FA/DESN 4123 3.0 Social Media Strategies

Beware of Overloading!
You are advised to take Design Workshop plus one studio course
in each of the Fall and Winter terms. Overloading of studio courses
does not allow you to produce your best work; having four strong
portfolio projects is better than five mediocre ones.

Completing your degree

The courses you select in your fourth year must complete the
120-credit Specialized Honours Bachelor of Design Degree
requirements. This is your responsibility! After filling out the
Degree Requirements Worksheet in the York Program in Design
Handbook, (with careful attention to degree requirements,
Handbook 2023/2024

prerequisites, co-requisites, etc.), if you have any additional

questions, please make an advising appointment with the
the Office of Advising and Student Integrated Services (OAISS).

11
 BDes Honours Degree Requirements Worksheet (120 credits) For students entering the program in 2019 or after

Design Studies 18 credits

18 credits General Education
12 credits AMPD electives (must be FA courses but must not be DESN courses – FA/DESN 1111 3.0 Design of the 20th Century

FA 1900 courses can be used in fulfilling this requirement)

FA/DESN 2101 3.0 Design in Contemporary Society
12 credits Free Electives (can be DESN courses)
FA/DESN 2xxx 3.0 History Palette Elective (one of 2111, 2112, 2113)
18 credits Design Studies (must be DESN courses) including:
• FA/DESN 1111 3.0 FA/DESN 3xxx/4xxx 3.0 (Design Studies Elective)
• FA/DESN 2101 3.0 and one of
• FA/DESN 2111 3.0 or FA/DESN 2112 3.0 or FA/DESN 2113 3.0 FA/DESN 3xxx/4xxx 3.0 (Design Studies Elective)
• an additional 9 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level
FA/DESN 3xxx/4xxx 3.0 (Design Studies Elective)
54 credits Design Studio (must be DESN courses) including:
• FA/DESN 1001 3.0
• FA/DESN 1002 3.0 Design Studio 54 credits
• FA/DESN 1003 3.0
• FA/DESN 1004 3.0 FA/DESN 1001 3.0 Communication Design Foundation
• FA/DESN 1011 3.0
FA/DESN 1002 3.0 Understanding Form and Context
• FA/DESN 2001 3.0
• FA/DESN 2002 3.0
FA/DESN 1003 3.0 Typography: Letter and Word
• FA/DESN 2011 3.0
• FA/DESN 2012 3.0 FA/DESN 1004 3.0 Drawing for Design
• FA/DESN 2021 3.0
• FA/DESN 3001 3.0 FA/DESN 1011 3.0 Visual Interaction Design
• FA/DESN 3002 3.0
• FA/DESN 3005 3.0 FA/DESN 2001 3.0 Communication Design Process
• FA/DESN 4000 6.0
FA/DESN 2002 3.0 Typography for Publishing Systems
• an additional 9 credits in Design Studio Electives
at the 3000 or 4000 level
FA/DESN 2011 3.0 Designing for Human Interactions

6 credits Professional Practice including: FA/DESN 2012 3.0 Prototyping & User-Centred Strategies
• FA/DESN 3201 3.0
• FA/DESN 4201 1.5 FA/DESN 2021 3.0 Information Design for Understanding
• FA/DESN 4202 1.5
FA/DESN 3001 3.0 Designing for Existing Systems

Note: Six credits from the FA/1900 3.00 series of courses, outside of the FA/DESN 3002 3.0 Designing for Future Systems
major, are required for all School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design
(AMPD) students. These courses can be counted as Humanities, Free Elec- FA/DESN 3005 3.0 Designing for Visual Complexity**
tive of Fine Arts Elective but cannot be counted more than once. For students
FA/DESN 4000 6.0 Degree Project
admitted to AMPD with a minimum of 54 transfer credits, the 6 credits from
the FA/1900 3.00 series of courses outside of the major are optional. FA/DESN 3xxx/4xxx 3.0 (Design Studio Elective)

FA/DESN 3xxx/4xxx 3.0 (Design Studio Elective)

General Education 18 credits
FA/DESN 3xxx/4xxx 3.0 (Design Studio Elective)
(FA 1900 course can fulfill this requirement)
Note: **formerly Design Inquiry
Humanities
(6.0 credits)

Social Science Professional Practice 6 credits

(6.0 credits)
FA/DESN 3201 3.0 Design Placement

Natural Science FA/DESN 4201 1.5 Degree Exhibit

(6.0 credits)
FA/DESN 4202 1.5 Professional Practices in Design

AMPD Electives 12 credits (Must be FA courses but not DESN.

FA 1900 courses can fulfill this requirement) Free Electives 12 credits (Can be DESN courses)
York Program in Design

12
Credit Overview

Program Residence Requirement

....
The previous worksheet, course list and program electives will help
you plan your courses and ensure that you have the necessary
120 credits in their proper distribution in order to graduate. Credit While allowing students to take a certain number of courses at
requirements for the Bachelor of Design Honours degree come from other universities and in other faculties of York University, in order
five areas, as follows: to meet the residence requirement, the School of the Arts, Media,
18 credits General Education (further details below) Performance & Design requires that students complete a portion of
12 credits AMPD Electives (must be FA courses but must not be DESN courses) their courses as follows:
12 credits Free Electives (can be DESN courses) • A minimum of 30 credits must be taken at York University.
18 credits Design Studies (must be DESN courses) Furthermore:
54 credits Design Studio (must be DESN courses) • No fewer than half of the credits required for the School of
6 credits Professional Practice (must be DESN courses) the Arts, Media, Performance & Design major (39 credits for
Design Majors) must be taken in the School of the Arts, Media,
120 credits Performance & Design (i.e. courses with the prefix FA), including
at least 12 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level, subject to any
further prescriptions of the major department.
General Education Courses
....

The York Program in Design is a four-year, 120 credit degree

The School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design curriculum is program. The annual (September through August) Design program
designed to acquaint students with contemporary knowledge in the fee covers a full load of 30 credits for the Fall and Winter terms.
humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences, as well Students may also take up to 6 additional credits during the
as in the fine arts. At least six credits must be selected from each summer term.
of the three areas listed. All three general education requirements
must be completed within your first 90 credits, and it is highly Note: Design students who are eligible to graduate in Spring, but
recommended that you complete them within your first 60 credits. want to take summer courses (and haven’t taken the maximum 36
credits) will be able to do so as part of their current paid tuition,
Humanities Natural Science Social Science
if they apply to graduate in the Fall. Students should note that
Classical Studies Biology Anthropology
if they apply to graduate in the Fall and take summer courses,
English Chemistry Economics
these courses will be included in their GPA and could affect their
French Studies Earth & Atmospheric Science Geography
academic standing.
History Environmental Studies Political Science
Design students who graduate in the Spring can take courses as
Humanities (ES/ENVS 1500 6.0) Psychology
non-degree students, but will be required to pay for them.
Languages & Natural Science Social Science
The University does not commit to, nor is it under any obligation
Linguistics Physics and Astronomy Sociology
to offer DESN courses in the summer session. It is the student’s
Modes of Reasoning Science and Technology
obligation to determine whether a given summer course will meet
Philosophy Studies (SC/STS)
BDes Honours degree requirements.

Note 1: A 9-credit course in Humanities, Social Science or Natural

Science will be counted as six general education credits and three Associated Course Fees (ACF’s)
....

non-fine arts elective credits.

Associated Course Fees are included in the BDes Program Fee.
Note 2: School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design students Any ACF’s charged to your account should be reversed in the
may also satisfy the Humanities general education requirements following month.
by taking FA/1900 3.0 courses outside the major. However, if these
courses are counted as a Humanities course, they cannot also be
counted as a Fine Arts out-of-major course.
Handbook 2023/2024

13
 York Design Program Timetable Planner
Fall 2023
....
Monday
Designing for Human
Morn. Interactions
FA/DESN 2011 3.00
Aft. Designing for Existing
Systems
FA/DESN 3001 3.00
Design of the 20th Century:
Icons, Movements and
Contexts
FA/DESN 1111 3.00
Eve.
Online Understanding Design
in a Global Context
FA/DESN 3121 3.0
Winter 2024
....
Monday
Evolution of Information
Morn. Design
FA/DESN 2112 3.00
Designing for Future
Systems
FA/DESN 3002 3.00
Package Design
FA/DESN 3004 3.00
Data Visualization Design
FA/DESN 4022 3.00
Aft. Drawing for Design
FA/DESN 1004 3.00
York Program in Design
Eve.
14
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Communication Design Communication Design Designing for Visual Motion Design
Process Foundation Complexity FA/DESN 3003 3.00
FA/DESN 2001 3.00 FA/DESN 1001 3.00 (formerly Design Inquiry)
FA/DESN 3005 3.00 Generative Design
Design Advocacy Design in Contemporary FA/DESN 3012 3.00
FA/DESN 3122 3.00 Society
FA/DESN 2101 3.00 Advanced Topics in
Interaction Design
FA/DESN 4012 3.0
Typography: Letter Package Design Degree Project Typography for Publishing
and Word FA/DESN 3004 3.00 FA/DESN 4000 6.0 Systems
FA/DESN 1003 3.00 FA/DESN 2002 3.00
Designing for Visual
Degree Exhibit Complexity
FA/DESN 4201 3.00 (formerly Design Inquiry)
FA/DESN 3005 3.00
Professional Practices
in Design
FA/DESN 4202 3.00
Branding and Identity
Systems
FA/DESN 4001 3.00
Publication Design
FA/DESN 4002 3.00
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Designing for Future Information Design History & Development Prototyping & User-Centred
Systems for Understanding of Western Typography Strategies
FA/DESN 3002 3.00 FA/DESN 2021 3.00 FA/DESN 2111 3.00 FA/DESN 2012 3.00
Publication Design Information Mapping
Design Placement & Networks
FA/DESN 4002 3.00
FA/DESN 3201 3.00 FA/DESN 3022 3.00
East Asian Design History In
Transnational Perspectives
FA/DESN 4101 3.00
Generative Design Understanding Form Degree Project Design Lab
FA/DESN 3012 3.00 and Context FA/DESN 4000 6.00 FA/DESN 4003 3.0
FA/DESN 1002 3.00
Degree Exhibit
FA/DESN 4201 3.00 Histories of Designed Things
FA/DESN 4103 3.00
Professional Practices
in Design
FA/DESN 4202 3.00
Branding and Identity
Visual Interaction Design
Systems
FA/DESN 1011 3.00
FA/DESN 4001 3.00
Course Timetable 2023 / 2024

Note: Fall and Winter classroom locations and delivery format are subject to change.

Communication Design Foundation FA/DESN 1001 Section A Communication Design Process FA/DESN 2001 Section A
Studio Course, Fall Semester 3 credits Studio Course, Fall Semester 3 credits
Stud A Wednesday 08:30 – 9:30 DB0006 Stud A Tuesday 08:30 – 09:30 ACE 002
Lab 01 Wednesday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4027 Lab 01 Tuesday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4027
Lab 02 Wednesday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4028 Lab 02 Tuesday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4028
Lab 03 Wednesday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4034 Lab 03 Tuesday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4034
Lab 04 Wednesday 09:30 – 12:30 CFA 330
Typography for Publishing Systems FA/DESN 2002 Section A
Understanding Form and Context FA/DESN 1002 Section M Studio Course, Fall Semester 3 credits
Studio Course, Winter Semester 3 credits Stud A Friday 12:30 – 13:30 ACE 002
Stud M Wednesday 12:30 – 13:30 TBD Lab 01 Friday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4027
Lab 01 Wednesday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4027 Lab 02 Friday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4028
Lab 02 Wednesday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4028 Lab 03 Friday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4034
Lab 03 Wednesday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4034
Lab 04 Wednesday 13:30 – 16:30 CFA 338 Designing for Human Interactions FA/DESN 2011 Section A
Studio Course, Fall Semester 3 credits
Typography: Letter and Word FA/DESN 1003 Section A Stud A Monday 08:30 – 09:30 ACE 002
Studio Course, Fall Semester 3 credits Lab 01 Monday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4027
Stud A Tuesday 12:30 – 13:30 ACW 005 Lab 02 Monday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4028
Lab 01 Tuesday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4027 Lab 03 Monday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4034
Lab 02 Tuesday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4028
Lab 03 Tuesday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4034 Prototyping & User-Centred Strategies FA/DESN 2012 Section M
Lab 04 Tuesday 13:30 – 16:30 CFA 330 Studio Course, Winter Semester 3 credits
Stud M Friday 08:30 – 09:30 ACE 002
Drawing for Design FA/DESN 1004 Section M Lab 01 Friday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4027
Studio Course, Winter Semester 3 credits Lab 02 Friday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4028
Stud M Monday 12:30 – 13:30 TBD Lab 03 Friday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4034
Lab 01 Monday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4027
Lab 02 Monday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4028 Information Design for Understanding FA/DESN 2021 Section M
Lab 03 Monday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4034 Studio Course, Winter Semester 3 credits
Lab 04 Monday 13:30 – 16:30 DB 4023 Stud M Wednesday 08:30 – 09:30 ACE 002
Lab 01 Wednesday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4027
Visual Interaction Design FA/DESN 1011 Section M Lab 02 Wednesday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4028
Studio Course, Winter Semester 3 credits Lab 03 Wednesday 09:30 – 12:30 DB 4034
Stud M Tuesday 16:30 – 17:30 ACW 004
Lab 01 Tuesday 17:30 – 20:30 DB 4027 Design in Contemporary Society FA/DESN 2101 Section A
Lab 02 Tuesday 17:30 – 20:30 DB 4028 Lecture Course, Fall Semester 3 credits
Lab 03 Tuesday 17:30 – 20:30 DB 4034 Lect A Wednesday 8:30 – 11:30 ACE 003
Lab 04 Tuesday 17:30 – 20:30 DB 4023
History & Development of Western Typography
Design of the 20th Century: Icons, Movements FA/DESN 2111 Section M
and Contexts FA/DESN 1111 Section A Lecture Course, Winter Semester 3 credits
Lecture Course, Fall Semester 3 credits Lect M Thursday 11:30 – 14:30 ACW 104
Lect A Monday 13:00 – 16:00 CFA 312
Evolution of Information Design FA/DESN 2112 Section M
Blended Course, Winter Semester 3 credits
Blen M Monday 11:30 – 13:30 ACW 009
Plus one hour asynchronous online
Handbook 2023/2024

15
 Course Timetable 2023/2024 (continued from page 15)

Note: Fall and Winter classroom locations and delivery format are subject to change.

Designing for Existing Systems FA/DESN 3001 Degree Project FA/DESN 4000
Studio Course, Fall Semester 3 credits Studio Course, Full Year 6 credits
Stud A Monday 12:30 – 16:30 DB 4027 Stud A Thursday 12:30 – 16:30 DB 4027
Stud B Monday 12:30 – 16:30 DB 4028 Stud B Thursday 12:30 – 16:30 DB 4028
Stud C Monday 12:30 – 16:30 DB 4034 Stud C Thursday 12:30 – 16:30 DB 4034

Designing for Future Systems FA/DESN 3002 Branding and Identity Systems FA/DESN 4001
Studio Course, Winter Semester 3 credits Studio Course, Fall or Winter Semester 3 credits
Stud M Monday 08:30 – 12:30 DB 4027 Stud A Wednesday 16:30 – 20:30 F DB 4027
Stud N Tuesday 08:30 – 12:30 DB 4027 Stud M Wednesday 16:30 – 20:30 W DB 4028
Stud O Tuesday 08:30 – 12:30 DB 4028
Publication Design FA/DESN 4002
Motion Design FA/DESN 3003 Section A Studio Course, Fall or Winter Semester 3 credits
Studio Course, Fall Semester 3 credits Stud A Wednesday 16:30 – 20:30 F DB 4028
Stud A Friday 08:30 – 12:30 DB 4028 Stud M Tuesday 08:30 – 12:30 W DB 4034

Package Design FA/DESN 3004 Section A and M Design Lab FA/DESN 4003
Studio Course, Fall or Winter Semester 3 credits Studio Course, Winter Semester 3 credits
Stud A Wednesday 12:30 – 16:30 F DB 4028 Stud M Friday 12:30 – 16:30 DB 4028
Stud M Monday 08:30 – 12:30 W DB 4028
Advanced Topics in Interaction Design FA/DESN 4012
Designing for Visual Complexity Studio Course, Fall Semester 3 credits
(formerly Design Inquiry) FA/DESN 3005 Stud A Friday 08:30 – 12:30 DB 4034
Studio Course, Fall Semester 3 credits
Stud A Wednesday 12:30 – 16:30 DB 4034 Data Visualization Design FA/DESN 4022 Section M
Stud B Thursday 08:30 – 12:30 DB 4028 Studio Course, Winter Semester 3 credits
Stud C Thursday 08:30 – 12:30 DB 4034 Stud M Monday 08:30 – 12:30 DB 4034

Generative Design FA/DESN 3012 Sections A and M East Asian Design History in Transnational Perspectives
Studio Course, Fall or Winter Semester 3 credits FA/DESN 4101 Section M
Stud A Friday 08:30 – 12:30 F DB 4027 Blended Course, Winter Semester 3 credits
Stud M Tuesday 12:30 – 16:30 W DB 4027 Blen M Thursday 8:30 – 10:30 ACW 305
Plus one hour asynchronous online
Information Mapping & Networks FA/DESN 3022 Section M
Studio Course, Winter Semester 3 credits Histories of Designed Things: Products, Artefacts, Trash
Stud M Thursday 08:30 – 12:30 DB 4028 FA/DESN 4103 Section M
Lecture Course, Winter Semester 3 credits
Understanding Design in a Global Context Lect M Wednesday 14:30 – 17:30 SC 221
FA/DESN 3121 Section A
Lecture Course, Fall Semester 3 credits Degree Exhibit FA/DESN 4201 Section A
ONLN Fully Online Lecture Course, Full Year 1.5 credits
Lect A Tuesday 14:30 – 16:00, bi-weekly Fall ACW 106
Design Advocacy FA/DESN 3122 Section A Winter ACW 307
Lecture Course, Fall Semester 3 credits
Lect A Tuesday 08:30 – 11:30 HNE 031 Professional Practices in Design FA/DESN 4202 Section A
Lecture Course, Full Year 1.5 credits
Design Placement FA/DESN 3201 Section M Lect A Tuesday 16:00 – 17:30, bi-weekly Fall ACW 106
Blended Course, Winter Semester 3 credits Winter ACW 307
Blen M Wednesday 11:30 – 13:30 ACE 003
Plus one hour asynchronous online
York Program in Design

16
Course Descriptions

Below are course descriptions for all courses approved for the
design curriculum. Not all of these courses will be offered each year.
Please check the York timetable for current course offerings.
1000 Level Courses
....
Design of the 20th Century: Icons, Movements
and Contexts FA/DESN 1111 3.0 Studies
Equips students with the contextual analytical skills required to
evaluate a range of key icons and art movements of twentieth
century design across the world. Students gain a better

understanding of the historical, social, political, cultural, economic,

philosophical and aesthetic conditions in the development of design
Communication Design Foundation FA/DESN 1001 3.0 Studio as a creative, cultural and professional practice in this period.
Introduces foundational skills relevant to the discipline of graphic | Required course for BDes majors.
design. Rather than focus on practical application, such as how
to design a book, brochure, logo or website, this course places
an emphasis on experimenting with the raw visual language of
design. Students develop and expand their vocabularies in visual
communication design, exploring basic design elements and
compositional principles used in design via drawing, collage and
other methods of image and form-making. | Required course for BDes
majors. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 1001 3.00.

Understanding Form and Context FA/DESN 1002 3.0 Studio

This course introduces terms and theories to explain images
and meanings in visual communication design. Topics covered
include how meaning is formed, the reading of signs and symbols,
text and images, and codes and cultures. Students express their
creative potential through idea generation and image manipulation
processes. | Required course for BDes majors. Prerequisite: FA/DESN 1001
3.00. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 1002 3.00.

Typography: Letter and Word FA/DESN 1003 3.0 Studio

Is the first in a sequence of three courses that cover typographic
practice, both as a technical skill and an expressive medium.
Typography, which deals with the shaping of language, resides at
the center of the discipline of graphic design. This course is an
introduction to the basic principles of typography, contemporary
aesthetic practices (which includes print and screen-based
applications), and user-centered practices. | Required course for BDes
2000 Level Courses
....

majors. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 1005 3.00.

Drawing for Design FA/DESN 1004 3.0 Studio
Introduces drawing as it is used in design as a tool for expression,
exploration, idea generation and refinement. Ideas and concepts
will be explored and translated into literal, abstract and symbolic
form for use in graphic representations, pictograms, symbols and
letterforms. Students are challenged to go beyond accuracy in
representation to embrace expression and abstraction for effective
communication. | Required course for BDes majors. Course credit exclusion:
FA/YSDN 2012 3.00.
Communication Design Process FA/DESN 2001 3.0 Studio
Introduces a design thinking process for visual communication.
Students are encouraged to establish methods through various
design thinking stages to foster innovative results. Rather than
focusing on visualization skills, the course stresses the importance
of generating creative strategies for the enhancement of the user
experience. | Required course for BDes majors. Prerequisite: FA/DESN 1001
3.00 and FA/DESN 1002 3.00 or permission of the Department of Design.
Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 2004 3.00.

Visual Interaction Design FA/DESN 1011 3.0 Studio
Investigates the role of basic coding and software applications in
interaction design. The use of imagery, typography and form within
compositional structures are explored through the development of
Typography for Publishing Systems FA/DESN 2002 3.0 Studio
Introduces students to systematic concerns of typography intend-
ed for long text documents in multiple page print documents and
extended screen-based reading. The course introduces best
Handbook 2023/2024

human computer user interfaces, which incorporate the integration practices for micro and macro typography and covers the use
of visual elements with non-visual interactions. | Required course of master pages, paragraph styles, grids and responsive screen
for BDes majors. Prerequisite: FA/DESN 1001 3.00 or permission of the typesetting. | Required course for BDes majors. Prerequisite: FA/DESN 1003
Department of Design. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 1006 3.00. 3.00. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 2003 3.00.

17
 Course Descriptions (continued from page 17)

Designing for Human Interactions FA/DESN 2011 3.0 Studio
Examines systems of communication that move beyond singular
artefacts by exploring more complex designed experiences that
involve multiple levels of interaction. This course will consider the
relationships between human purpose, material objects and the role
of the designer within larger technological and social ecosystems.
| Required course for BDes majors. Prerequisite: FA/DESN 1011 3.0.
History & Development of Western Typography
FA/DESN 2111 3.0 Studies
Explores the development of typographic form, from the origins of
alphabet to the present. Discussion includes the study of historical
and cultural periods, typographic classifications and exploration
of contemporary typography. | Prerequisite: FA/DESN 1111 3.00. Course
credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 2107 3.00.

Prototyping and User-Centred Strategies
FA/DESN 2012 3.0 Studio
Focuses on iteration to explore, encourage and discover how
user input informs design. Prototyping and user testing is applied
across a broad spectrum of design situations using methods that
offer insights into what kind of design is possible. This course will
consider prototyping and user testing as a form of design inquiry.
By developing specific skills in building prototypes for evaluation,
students create an opportunity to deepen their understanding of
user-centred design. | Required course for the BDes majors. Prerequisite:
Second-year standing in BDes Program or permission of the Department of
Design
Information Design for Understanding FA/DESN 2021 3.0 Studio
Examines and applies the relevant theories and methodologies
which allow the designer to prioritize, simplify and creatively
visualize a wide range of complex textual and visual information.
| Required course for BDes majors. Prerequisite: Second year standing in
the BDes Program or permission of the Department of Design. Course credit
exclusion: FA/YSDN 2008 3.00
Evolution of Information Design FA/DESN 2112 3.0 Studies (Blended)
Examines the origin and development of designed artifacts
to provide clarity and enable understanding of complex data,
processes, and environments. It considers influencing factors
of social, technological and historical developments in the
representation of information. Using a blended course model,
classes alternate weekly between face-to-face and online meetings.
| Prerequisite: FA/DESN 1111 3.00. Course credit exclusion:
FA/YSDN 2108 3.00.
History and Culture of Interaction Design
FA/DESN 2113 3.0 Studies (Blended)
Introduces students to the development of interaction design
as an emerging field of practice and research. Grounded in
historical advancements, the role of interaction design as a cultural
phenomenon and technological practice will be explored. Using a
blended model, this course will alternate between face-to-face and
online classes. | Prerequisite: FA/DESN 1111 3.00. Course credit exclusion:
FA/YSDN 2109 3.00

Design in Contemporary Society FA/DESN 2101 3.0 Studies

Offers an identification and examination of the various roles that
design and designers play in the solving of visual and cultural
problems in today’s rapidly changing society. | Required course for
BDes majors. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 3102 3.00.

Design and Inuit Cultural Products

(formerly Design and Inuit Cultural Artifacts)
FA/DESN 2102 3.0 Studies (Online)
This fully online course introduces students to a range of Inuit
artifacts and cultural practices by considering them as objects
of design and evidence of externalized knowledge. The course
introduces students to design as a way of knowing, as a process for
devising human-made responses to environmental conditions, and
as a category of informative and expressive artifacts, of which Inuit
cultural objects are often exemplars.
The course will incorporate making in the forms of sketching,
rapid prototyping, modeling with found objects, which students
will upload to the course site. Visual research and cognitive tools
such as concept mapping will also be incorporated in the course
assignments. There will be short-answer Forum questions and
online discussions to facilitate writing opportunities.
York Program in Design

| Open to non-majors.

18
 3000 Level Courses
....
Designing for Existing Systems FA/DESN 3001 3.0 Studio
Requires students to work in collaborative groups. Students develop
an innovative approach to an existing complex issue that engages a
design solution. Issues oscillate between different scales of thinking
about the city, the environment, the institution and the individual.
The topic of focus may vary between years and even sections
depending upon the expertise of the instructor, the industry partner
and the topical nature of current events. Potential external project
partners include industry, government or NGOs, or local not-for-
profit groups. Solutions may involve products, communications or
environments. | Required course for BDes majors. Prerequisite: Third- or
fourth-year standing in the BDes Program.
Designing for Future Systems FA/DESN 3002 3.0 Studio
Requires students to work in collaborative groups where students
will develop a speculative outlook on a complex issue that engages
a design solution. The topic of focus may vary between years and
even sections depending upon the expertise of the instructor, the
industry partner and the topical nature of current events. Potential
external project partners include industry, government, NGOs,
or local not-for-profit groups. Students will explore the power of
design to inspire and accelerate innovation. | Required course for BDes
majors. Prerequisite: FA/DESN 3001 3.00.
Motion Design FA/DESN 3003 3.0 Studio
Focuses upon the visual grammar and language syntax of time-
based communication and motion graphics and explores concepts
and techniques involved in the integration of images, typography,
digital video and audio into vibrant and persuasive communication
environments. | Prerequisite: Third-year or fourth-year standing in the BDes
Program or permission of the Department of Design. Course credit exclusion:
FA/YSDN 3009 3.00.
Package Design FA/DESN 3004 3.0 Studio
This specialized studio course focuses on the principles, vocabulary
and contemporary production of package design. An historical
overview and current design strategies in the context of the retail
environment will be investigated. | Prerequisite: Third-year or fourth-year
standing in the BDes Program or permission of the Department of Design.
Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 3010 3.00.
Designing for Visual Complexity (formerly Design Inquiry)
FA/DESN 3005 3.0 Studio
Introduces students to visual systems in design, with an emphasis
on exploring the opportunities and constraints that arise when
designing for different types of media. Students use imagemaking
and typographic skills to experiment with consistency and variation,
paying particular attention to scalability. | Required course for BDes
majors. Preqrequisites: FA/DESN 2001 3.00 and FA/DESN 2002 3.00.
Generative Design
FA/DESN 3012 3.0 Studio
Examines and explores the intersection of coding and creative
thinking. By introducing the developing theories and models of
computational frameworks, students acquire procedural literacy
and become knowledgeable about parametric and/or iterative
design methods employed in computational problem solving and
algorithmic production of content. | Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year
standing in the BDes Program.
Typography for Information Design FA/DESN 3021 3.0 Studio
Explores typography as it relates to information design in print,
digital and environmental applications. Students will learn
how legible and readable text information can affect a users’
understanding of information and enhance meaning. Students
will be engaged in designing materials in both real and virtual
environments where clarity of text information is critical for
navigating and searching and conveying complex information. |
Prerequisite: FA/DESN 2002 3.00 or permission of the Department of Design.
Information Mapping and Networks FA/DESN 3022 3.0 Studio
Builds on principles and methodologies introduced in Information
Design for Understanding with a specific focus on visualization
through mapping practices, ranging from conceptual approaches to
practical applications using print/digital media. | Prerequisite: FA/DESN
2021 3.00. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 3012 3.00.
Understanding Design in a Global Context
FA/DESN 3121 3.0 Studies
Introduces and explores emerging design issues in a global context
and aims to raise students’ awareness of this global environment
from multiple perspectives including design history, theory,
critique and practices. Students explore topics such as national
design identity, global design consumptions, design innovation,
cultural transformation, vernacular design, transnational design,
design policy and the creative economy. This course also aims to
inform students about the current global design opportunities and
challenges. | Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year standing in the BDes Program.
Design Advocacy FA/DESN 3122 3.0 Studies
Focuses upon the contribution of design to public awareness of
social issues in this design studies course. Students learn that
responsible designers also have social responsibilities, and have the
opportunity to be of service to marginalized populations. Students
will be introduced to the role(s) of graphic agitation, interventions,
major and alternative modes of public address and culture jamming.
| Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 3104 3.00.
Design Placement FA/DESN 3201 3.0 Professional Practice
Prepares students to launch their careers as designers, improve
prospects for employment and to make a meaningful contribution
to their profession in design. Full-time participation is required
Handbook 2023/2024
for three weeks in an approved professional design environment.
| Required course for BDes majors. Prerequisite: Third-year standing in the
BDes Program. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 3111 3.00.
19
 Course Descriptions (continued from page 19)
4000 Level Courses
....
Degree Project FA/DESN 4000 6.0 Studio
A two-semester capstone course in which students pursue
independent research on a topic of their choice to produce a
body of work. Students demonstrate their knowledge in visual
communication by applying a culmination of skills, conceptual
abilities and critical thinking. Students provide a detailed proposal
related to an area of focus prior to execution. Regular critical
engagement and consultation between instructor and student is
a major component of this course. | Required course for BDes majors,
which can only be taken in their graduating year. Prerequisites: All required
studio, studies and professional practice courses or permission of the
Department of Design. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 4004 6.00.
Branding and Identity Systems FA/DESN 4001 3.0 Studio
Focuses on branding and identity as the expression of the culture and
values of organizations, products and services. Strategic positioning
and communicating with the brand audiences is emphasized through
the development of a branding system that will consider a variety
of media and experiences. | Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year standing in
the BDes program or permission of the Department of Design. Course credit
exclusion: FA/YSDN 4007 3.00. Integrated with GS/DESN 5407 3.00.
Publication Design FA/DESN 4002 3.0 Studio
Introduces the design of complex large document systems for page
and screen. Through the design of books, magazines, newspapers,
’zines, or other forms of publication, this course explores how
typography, images and graphics behave across media. Covers
sequencing and narrative through the examination of grid
structures, comprehensive style sheets, and complex compositional
structures. Students learn more advanced features of software for
typography, image-making and interaction and build compelling
projects working with multi-layered information. Emphasis is
on developing a self-directed narrative that communicates and
effectively integrates typography using ebooks, tablet or print.
| Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year standing in the BDes Program.
Note: Integrated with GS/DESN 5413 3.00.
Design Lab FA/DESN 4003 3.0 Studio
The Design Lab provides BDes students with practical, multi-
disciplinary industry experience in a realistic studio environment
that includes team work and creative interaction. Students take
part in a roster of design office experiences which reflect working
for and managing a design firm. Students assume all project
responsibilities such as: scheduling/project management, research,
client meetings, location photography and videography, illustrations,
creative strategy development and client presentations, production
of both print and interactive designs, and vendor liaison and co-
ordination. Students are also introduced to account management
and project billing practices. Students gain strong skills, new
York Program in Design
confidence, professional experience, and a competitive advantage
for internships and jobs. All work is supervised by an instructor with
wide-ranging industry experience. | Admission is open to 3rd and 4th
year students. Participation requires permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite: Third or Fourth-year standing
20
Another Design Lab
FA/DESN 4004 3.0 Studio
The Design Lab provides BDes students with practical, multi-
disciplinary industry experience in a realistic studio environment that
includes team work and creative interaction. Students take part in
a roster of design office experiences which reflect working for and
managing a design firm. Students assume all project responsibilities
such as: scheduling/project management, research, client meetings,
location photography and videography, illustrations, creative strategy
development and client presentations, production of both print and
interactive designs, and vendor liaison and co-ordination. Students
are also introduced to account management and project billing
practices. Students gain strong skills, new confidence, professional
experience, and a competitive advantage for internships and jobs.
All work is supervised by an instructor with wide-ranging industry
experience. | Replace with: Admission is open to 3rd and 4th year students.
Participation requires permission of the instructor. Prerequisite: Third or Fourth-
year standing. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 4014 3.00.
Interactive Objects and Environments FA/DESN 4011 3.0 Studio
Introduces students to theories and practices of communication
design for interactive environments. Interaction scenarios and user
experience will be explored through alternative interfaces using
sensors, and other inputs to control projected video, graphics, and
sound. | Prerequisite: FA/DESN 3012 3.00 or permission of the Department of
Design. Course Credit Exclusion: FA/YSDN 4009 3.00. Integrated with
GS/DESN 5414 3.00.
Advanced Topics in Interaction Design FA/DESN 4012 3.0 Studio
Investigates advanced investigation into systems – intuitive
and learned – that support human activities via interactive
communication and distribution networks. Interactive systems are
developed through an understanding of the reciprocal fashion in
which these networks function: from users to the computer and
back. | Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year standing in the BDes Program or
permission of the Department of Design. Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN
4003 3.00. Integrated with GS/DESN 5403 3.00.
Visual Analytics FA/DESN 4021 3.0 Studio
Introduces the fundamental theories and principals of visual
analytics and data structures. This course examines the use of
visual display formats such as charts, graphs and maps that are
used to render structured datasets into easily perceptible and
comprehensible info graphics as a basis for informed decision
making. | Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year standing in the BDes Program.
Data Visualization Design FA/DESN 4022 3.0 Studio
Explores the affordances of both print and digital media for the
application of Information Design principles and methodologies
introduced and developed in earlier courses. This course will take
an intra-disciplinary (print, interactivity, time-based, environmental)
approach to researching and developing a comprehensive
presentation of specific data sets to be determined by each section.
| Prerequisite: FA/DESN 3012 3.00 or permission of the Department of Design.
Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 4008 3.00. Integrated with
GS/DESN 5408 3.00.
East Asian Design History in Transnational Perspectives
FA/DESN 4101 3.0 Studies (Blended)
This blended course focuses on the history of modern East Asian
design in the contemporary context of globalization in transnational
perspectives. In East Asia, the development of “modern” design
histories began with cultural translation through Western culture in
the late nineteenth century. The term “design” itself raises complex
questions that are currently under investigation, reflecting an interest
in cultural translation and transnational studies within postcolonial
studies. This course will explore how modern design in East Asia has
been adapted, practiced, theorized and discussed as an interactive
process between heritage rich cultures of East Asia and modernism
in the West. We will examine the terminology of “design” in the East
Asian context, key designers and their works, movements, and
definitions and developments-oriental modernity, nationalism and
political ideology-within regional and international design frameworks.
Through this examination, students will explore the significance of the
connections between design artefacts and everyday life. This course
will stimulate a transnational and interdisciplinary understanding of
design in the age of globalization by reflecting on the past, present
and future of East Asian design. | Open to non-majors. Integrated
with GS/DESN 5411 3.0
Unpacking the Interface FA/DESN 4102 3.0 Studies
This course takes as its primary subject of interrogation the
interface, defined broadly. Students will be presented with a series
of lenses through which they might understand the inherent power
and privilege exercised through the design of a given interface. This
course is meant to supplement students’ concurrent work to design
the interfaces that will define our world to come. As such, real world
case studies will supplement readings on each topic, and students
will be encouraged to seek out concrete examples from their own
day-to-day experiences to bring to class for interrogation. Some
knowledge of the terminology used in interface conceptualization
and design, as well as a knowledge of what is considered “good”
interface design practice, are recommended for participation in this
course. | Integrated with GS/DESN 5402 3.0
Histories of Designed Things: Products, Artefacts, Trash
FA/DESN 4103 3.0 Studies
Histories of Designed Things introduces Design students to the
key debates and transdisciplinary research methods that inform
contemporary approaches to the study of historical designed
objects. Drawing on research in both traditional and critical design
studies as well as related disciplines—such as material culture
studies, anthropology, media history, cultural studies, museum
studies—the course explores the multiple histories of designed
objects and ask questions about the roles they play in our everyday
lives. How are the things around us (and the practice of design,
more broadly speaking) related to the cultural, intellectual, social,
and political concerns of an era? How do we learn to adopt and
adapt to new products and technologies? How do our things
change us? How do designed objects go from studio to assembly
line to use to museum (or landfill)? What and whose decisions are
involved in these transitions? These critical questions will inform our
intellectual and methodological strategies for engaging in hands-on
and historical research with designed objects. | Integrated with
GS/DESN 5401 3.0 elective course
Building a Discipline FA/DESN 4121 3.0 Studies
This course uses writing to approach the examination and
understanding of graphic design. Writing is considered both a
discipline (way of thinking) and a medium (way of making). In both
instances, writing provides an opportunity to understand graphic
design from new and unique perspectives. The ability to write
cogently and coherently is one of the hallmarks of educated men
and women. | Course credit exclusion: FA/YSDN 4110 3.00.
Design for Creative Entrepreneurship FA/DESN 4122 3.0 Studies
Equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to articulate
a strategy for design entrepreneurship that supports a product idea.
Students formulate a plan of values for targeted market segments
and define the terms that outline their represented market. It
introduces concepts, strategies and iterative practices to familiarize
students with business planning, price points and cost calculations.
In addition, the course will cover fundraising basics, crowdsourcing,
team development and techniques for brand building and marketing
in an age of social media, niche markets and intellectual capital.
| Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year standing in the BDes Program. Integrated
with GS/DESN 5422 3.00
Social Media Strategies FA/DESN 4123 3.0 Studies (Blended)
Examines the role of social media in shaping communications from
a technical and social perspective. Through a critical lens, students
will navigate social media’s evolution and the impact on practices in
everyday life. Additionally, this course will examine the role of social
media as an entrepreneurial activity in the arts. | Prerequisite: Third- or
fourth-year standing in the BDes Program. Integrated with GS/DESN 5423 3.00
Degree Exhibit FA/DESN 4201 1.5 Professional Practice
The Degree Exhibit will present a significant demonstration of
work accomplished during the course of the BDes degree. As part
of the student capstone experience, students organize, publicize,
and mount an exhibition of their design work at a level of quality
and quantity appropriate for the BDes degree. | Required course for
BDes majors, which can only be taken in their graduating year. Prerequisites:
All required studio, studies and professional practice courses or permission
of the Department of Design. Corequisite: FA/DESN 4000 6.00,
FA/ DESN 4202 1.50.
Professional Practices in Design
FA/DESN 4202 1.5 Professional Practice
Allows students to form an understanding of design as a
professional practice through lectures/discussions, readings and
field trips. This course explores aspects of professional practice
with an emphasis on client work, budgeting, planning, presentation
and teamwork. The course will prepare students to transition from
Handbook 2023/2024
design student to a design professional. | Required course for BDes
majors, which can only be taken in their graduating year. Prerequisites: All
required studio, studies and professional practice courses or permission of the
Department of Design. Corequisite: FA/DESN 4000 6.00, FA/ DESN 4201 1.50.
21
 .
Course Descriptions (continued from page 21)

Independent Studio Courses for Non-Majors Only

....
FA/DESN 4301 3.0, FA/DESN 4301 6.0 Studio
Offers an individualized study program for highly motivated students (Unavailable to DESN students)

in their final year of study who wish to pursue specific and intensive
independent studio projects under the supervision of a faculty
member on topics not available in other courses in the department.
No more than one independent study course may be taken in any
given year. | Prerequisites: Fourth-year standing in the BDes program, an
overall major average of 7.0 (B+) and permission of the Department of Design.
Note: Applications are available in the spring for the following academic
session. Applications must include written support of faculty supervisor prior
to submission to the department for approval.
Independent Studies FA/DESN 4302 3.0, FA/DESN 4302 6.0 Studies
Offers an individualized study program for highly motivated students
in their final year of study who wish to pursue specific and intensive
independent studies projects under the supervision of a faculty
member on topics not available in other courses in the department.
No more than one independent study course may be taken in any
given year. | Prerequisites: Fourth-year standing in the BDes program, an
overall major average of 7.0 (B+) and permission of the Department of Design.
Note: Applications are available in the spring for the following academic
session. Applications must include written support of faculty supervisor prior
to submission to the department for approval.
Introduction to Design: Practice and Appreciation
(for non-majors) FA/DESN 1010 3.00
This blended introductory course is designed for non-majors who
are interested in design. Through key readings, writing assignments
and hands-on projects, students will develop basic literacy in visual
communication design and gain an appreciation of design in society
at large and in the business world. Students need to be aware that
this is not a software training course, but rather requires intensive
readings, writing reflections on short design articles, documentation
of rigorous design processes, research reports, creative rationales
as well as applied design projects with the learning goals to
enhance students’ abilities and sensitivity to design and creativity.
This course has no tests or examinations, but weekly lesson
activities and design projects provide students with opportunities to
embrace the continuous learning experience of an in-depth design
studio education.

Special Topics (Studies)

FA/DESN 4401 3.0, FA/DESN 4401 6.0 Studies
Courses may address a current or timely topic, may be in a “pilot”
phase before being offered on an ongoing basis, or may be one
time offerings. A course may cover emerging issues or specialized
content not represented in the main curriculum, or it may allow
faculty to pursue a research imperative in a timely fashion. A
“Special Topic” course also allows the Department of Design to
take advantage of Visiting Faculty expertise. Special Topics course
offerings can vary from term to term. Course descriptions are
not printed in the university catalog but are included in the class
schedule for the semester they will be offered. | Prerequisite: Fourth-
year standing in the BDes Program.
York Program in Design

22
General Information
Important Contacts
....
Registrarial Services
currentstudents.yorku.ca/registrarial-services
Bennett Centre for Student Services: 99 Ian Macdonald Blvd,
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3 Canada
416 736 5000 | rscheck@yorku.ca
Office of Student Financial Services
sfs.yorku.ca
Bennett Centre for Student Services: 99 Ian Macdonald Blvd,
Ontario M3J 1P3 Canada, 416 872 9675
All front-line services regarding OSAP, student accounts and
scholarships are provided through Student Client Services in
the Bennett Centre for Student Services, and the majority of
your inquiries can be handled there.
Note: All DESN students must apply for OSAP through York
University only.
York University
Office of Advising and Student Integrated Services:
416 736 5135 | oaiss@yorku.ca
Housing: 416 736 5152 | undergradres@yorku.ca
Parking: 416 736 5335 | parking@yorku.ca
Scott Library: 416 736 5181 | scottref@yorku.ca
Student Community & Leadership Development:
416 736 5144 | yorku.ca/scld/
Security
....
Student safety and security is a priority at York University.
Students should familiarize themselves with the locations and
services available.
York Security
security.info.yorku.ca
4700 Keele Street, 228 William Small Centre
x58000 or 416 650 8000
To arrange for a safe escort (goSAFE program): 416 736 5454 or
x55454 (Hours: 18:00-02:00 Sept-Apr; 20:00-02:00 Summer)
Student Identification Cards
....
YU-Card
yorku.ca/yucard
The YU-card is York University’s official integrated photo id, debit
card and provides key card access to the Design labs. While you are
a student at York, the YU-card will be your key to important services
such as the library and the meal plan. The YU-card will also provide
access to the design studios in the Dahdaleh Building. The YU-card
will not expire each session, so you will not have to get a new card
every year.
The YU-card is mandatory for all students. Information about
obtaining YU-cards for returning and new students is posted online.
Passport York
....
Passport York is York’s primary method of on-line authentication.
You must sign up for your Passport York username and password
so that you can log into York’s on-line services for students.
Passport York determines which services you are able to access.
If you are a new student and have not signed up for Passport
York, the first time you go to an application that requires the
Passport York login, click on the button that says New Student
Sign Up!
The next screen will ask you to login with your student number
and date of birth. Follow the steps as they are listed. You will be
asked to give yourself a Passport York username and password.
It is important that you remember what you choose.
Once you have both your Passport York username and password,
you can access the various on-line services for students.
If you have forgotten your Passport York username and
password, click on any application that requires Passport York and
then click on Forgot your password or username?
Enrolment Process
....
Adding and dropping courses is done on-line through the
university’s registration and enrolment system. Access to your
records, instructions on how to add and drop courses, enrolment
guides, and other enrolment information is at yorku.ca. Select
Current Students to find the information you require.
Registration and Enrolment System
registrar.yorku.ca
If the problem involves a Passport York username or password,
please contact askit@yorku.ca.
Paying Your Deposit (for undergraduate students new to York University)
sfs.yorku.ca/fees/deposit
A registration deposit is required of all new students to York
University in order to confirm their registration.
• New students who do not pay the registration deposit on time
will not be permitted to enrol in additional courses through the
Registration and Enrolment Module.
• Please refer to the payment options outlined at sfs.yorku.ca and
select Fees.
• If you have an overdue amount on your student account you may
not be able to enrol into courses.
Handbook 2023/2024
23
 General Information (continued from page 23)

Advising Process for Enrolment

....

academic achievement and course load. No application is required

All incoming students will have an on-line advising enrolment
appointment as outlined in your offer of admission letter. If you have
any questions or require further information about the School of the
Arts, Media, Performance & Design enrolment process, contact The
Office of Advising and Student Integrated Services (OAISS) from
09:00 – 16:00 Monday to Friday to answer any of your questions.
They may be contacted at 416 736 5524 or joinampd@yorku.ca
All returning students will enrol using the university’s registration
and enrolment system.
Orientation
....
for this scholarship.
Bursaries
sfs.yorku.ca/scholarships/current/sag
Students registered in the York Program in Design are eligible
for the Student Access Guarantee Bursary. The bursary is
awarded to current DESN students in good academic standing
who demonstrate a tuition book shortfall. You must be an Ontario
resident who has been assessed for OSAP funding.
Please note that all scholarship, award, and bursary recipients
must be registered at the University. Scholarships, awards, and
bursaries are applied directly to the recipients’ Student Account at

York University.
Orientation for new students to the York Program in Design will take
place during the last week of August or beginning of September. At Income Tax Forms

this time, students will be introduced to faculty, staff and students.
Important information will be presented to assist students in making
their entry into the York Program in Design
Financial Aid
....
....
sfs.yorku.ca/fees/taxforms
Relevant tax forms, i.e. Tuition and Education Credit Certificates
(T2202’s) and T4A’s, are available on the web by February 28 each
year. Students (both current students and those already graduated)

York is committed to an enhanced financial assistance program
based on demonstrated need. A good portion of the program fees
will be used to support a generous bursary program. It is offered in
addition to standard scholarships for new and continuing students.
must print their own copies of these forms. Students will need a
Passport York ID to log into this password-protected site.
If parents or accountants require copies of these forms, it is the
student’s responsibility to print them from the web, as outlined above.

YFS Student Health Plan

....

Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)

Through the Ontario Student Assistance Program, students can
apply for loans and grant assistance to help with their educational
costs. The provincial government determines your financial
need according to its criteria and may supplement your personal
resources through loans or grants. These funds may not be
sufficient to cover all of your educational and living expenses.
Students are encouraged to explore all other financial
avenues: personal savings, family assistance, bursaries, student
bank loans and part-time work.
Check osap.gov.on.ca to:
• apply for OSAP loans directly on-line;
• check the status of your OSAP application;
• change your mailing address on your OSAP record.
The mandatory YFS Health Plan is sponsored by the York Federation
of Students. A full description of the plan is available from the YFS
Health Plan Office.
Opting Out of the Plan
If you already have extended personal health coverage you may opt
out of the YFS-sponsored plan. To do so, you must fill out a waiver
form each year. If you are eligible to opt out, and do so before
the deadline in early October, the charge will be reversed on your
student account. Questions concerning the Plan and opting out
should be directed to the YFS Health Plan Office, located at 336
First Student Centre.
416 736 2100 ext. 58066 | healthplan@yfs.ca

Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries

....

Scholarships & Awards

sfs.yorku.ca/scholarships
A number of scholarships and awards are available to students.
Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate
outstanding academic achievement and may be partially based
on financial need.
York Program in Design

The York University Continuing Student Scholarship is distributed

annually in August to students who have achieved outstanding
academic results in the previous Fall/Winter and Summer Sessions.
The monetary value of the awards varies according to the level of

24
 Winters College at York University Parking
....

Winters College is the Fine Arts College at York University. Through
its association with the School of the Arts, Media, Performance &
Design and its programs and facilities, Winters provides a congenial
and stimulating base for all Arts, Science and School of the Arts,
Media, Performance & Design students interested in making art,
culture and creativity part of their daily campus life. Facilities include
a junior common room, music practice rooms, an art gallery, the
Winters Club Lounge, as well as the Absinthe Pub and Coffee Shop.
The intellectual, cultural and social life of the college extends into
....
York Permits
All York Program in Design students may purchase one York Parking
Permit that will allow them to park on the campus. This permit is
issued by the Parking Office at York University. Further information
and applications are available from the Parking Office, Suite 222,
William Small Centre, 155 Campus Walk, York University.
416 736 5335 | yorku.ca/parking
Class Cancellations Due to Weather

....
festivals, conferences and performances connected with the arts. It
sponsors dances, concerts and trips to plays, operas and major art 416 736 5600 or check for updates on the Campus Weather
centres. Many of these special programs and events are organized Advisory on yorku.ca/safety
by a student-elected council which reports to the Head of the
College. In addition, the Winters College Council and the Creative
Resources and Facilities

....
Arts Students’ Association have collaborated on several programs
of special interest to School of the Arts, Media, Performance & York Program in Design students are encouraged to take full
Design students, such as Orientation. winters.ampd.yorku.ca advantage of York’s facilities and support services.

International Student Information

....

Have questions and don’t know where to start?

Student Community & Leadership Development
York University yorku.ca/scld/student-engagement/
York International – International Student Services Program
York International is responsible for offering programs and services
Counselling & Accessibility Services
....

to international students at York University. As such, it is the primary

contact office at York University for international students.
York International provides seminars and information sessions
throughout the year for all international students. These include
sessions on academic life at York, graduation, financial aid and
planning, on-campus employment, Canada Immigration regulations
and Canadian taxes. An extensive reception and orientation service
is offered for new international students at the start of each term.
York International also administers the University Health Insurance
Plan (UHIP), which is mandatory for international students.
Individual advising is available to international students on issues
such as academic and cultural adjustment, financial planning and
immigration regulations. For more information, contact:
York International, York Lanes 200
York University, 4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario Canada M3J 1P3
416 736 5177 | iadvisor@yorku.ca
international.yorku.ca
York University provides counselling and accessibility services.
Student Accessibility Services:
yorku.ca/accessibility-services
Students with general inquiries can contact Student Accessibility
Services at 416 736 5755
sasinfo@yorku.ca
Student Counselling & Development:
Bennett Centre for Student Services N110
416 736 5297 | counselling.students.yorku.ca
Note: Students in need of these services should register at
York as early as possible to ensure that appropriate academic
accommodation can be provided. It is the responsibility of the
student to discuss the accommodation(s) required with the course
director at the beginning of the term.

Exchange Programs
....

For information on exchange programs contact York International.

416 736 5177 | goglobal@yorku.ca
Handbook 2023/2024

25
 Faculty
David Cabianca AIGA
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Program in Design | MArch Princeton University USA;
MFA 2D Design Cranbrook Academy of Art USA; MA Typeface Design University of Reading UK;
MA Design Writing Criticism London College of Communication University of the Arts London UK |
cabianca@yorku.ca
David Cabianca joined the department in 2005. He has taught
typography, history and theory at California Institute of the Arts,
Cranbrook Academy of Art, OCAD, and both architecture studio
and theory and criticism at the University of Manitoba and the
University of Michigan. His research and scholarship interests have
to date focused on typeface design, contemporary graphic design,
issues of representation and disciplinary conflict. Initially designed
while attending the University of Reading, his typeface Cardea
was released by the Emigre Font Foundry in 2014. In 2012, he was
one of the organizers of the AIGA Design Educators Conference,
“Blunt: Explicit and Graphic Design Criticism Now.” His writing
has appeared in Emigre, Idea, Design & Culture, Journal of Design
History, and Design Observer. His book, Ed Fella: A Life in Images
(Unit Editions, 2021), was funded in part by a grant from the Social
Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Shital Desai
Assistant Professor | PhD Queensland University of Technology | desais@yorku.ca
Dr. Shital Desai is an Assistant Professor in Interaction Design,
School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design and heads
the CFI funded Social and Technological Systems (SaTS) lab at
York University. Her research addresses issues that focus on UN
Sustainable Development Goals using Design Research methods,
Human Centred Design, Systems Design and Speculative Design
approaches. To that extent, she cocreates accessible technologies,
services and governance policies for marginalised demographics
and global health. Shital is a member of the WHO Dementia
Knowledge Exchange peer review network where she shares her
expert knowledge on dementia and technology in strengthening
policies, service planning and health and social care systems for
dementia. She is passionate about training students in Systems
Design and Design thinking methods to address societal issues
around accessibility and inclusivity. Shital is the recipient of several
awards and grants, including 2021-22 AMPD Research award,
Petro Canada Young Innovator Award, and tri-council grants—
SSHRC, CIHR, NSERC. She received NSERC Discovery grant in
2021 to design and develop adaptive assistive technologies for
people with dementia.
York Program in Design
26
Sandra Gabriele
Associate Professor | MDes University of Alberta, MASc Carleton University, School of Design
(Schule für Gestaltung) Basel, AOCA Ontario College of Art | sandrag@yorku.ca
(On sabbatical July 1st, 2023 – June 30th, 2024)
Sandra Gabriele is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and
Design, Toronto, the Schule für Gestaltung Basel, holds an MDes
in Visual Communication Design from the University of Alberta and
a MASc in Human Computer Interaction from Carleton University.
In professional practice, she designed communications materials
for a variety of clients: government organizations, corporations,
small businesses and non-profit organizations, in both print and
digital media. Her current research is concerned with usability and
designing to support user experiences. She studies legibility in
typography and how visuals affect user behaviour in the areas of
patient safety and security and privacy with the use of digital devices.
David Gelb AIGA
Associate Professor | MEd University of Toronto | dgelb@yorku.ca
David Gelb explores the potential of technology and pedagogical
experimentation with a focus on ethical interfaces and design
research. He is the co-leader of Interactive Art + Design Learning
Modules which is supported through the Shared Ontario Course
Fund and includes 10 researchers, artists and designers from
across the province. He also co-leads Looking to the Future:
Building State-of-the-Art eLearning in the School of the Arts,
Media, Performance & Design, a multi-year project focused on
technology and new pedagogical practices for arts-based teaching
and learning. He was one of the organizers for Edge Effects:
Digitally Engaged Learning conference held in 2018. He recently
co-authored with Angela Norwood “The Design Process is a
Research Process: Students and the Ethics of Inquiry”, Bloomsbury
Academic (2020). David teaches across the department spectrum
with a focus on digital product design, user-centred research, and
interaction design studies.
Jan Hadlaw
Associate Professor | PhD Simon Fraser University; MA Concordia University; BFA Concordia
University | jhadlaw@yorku.ca
Jan Hadlaw is a historian of design and media. Her research
focuses on design and everyday life, especially the design of
20th-century technologies, their representation in popular culture,
and their roles in advancing modern conceptions of time, space,
and identity. Her work has been published in the Journal of Design
History, Design Issues, Space & Culture, Technology & Culture,
Material Culture Review, Objet et Communication, as well as several
edited collections. She is a member of the International Committee
on the History of Technology (ICHOTEC) executive committee, and
the editorial board of the journal ICON.
Professor Hadlaw has over seventeen years of professional
experience as a designer, working with Alcan, the National Film
Board, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, and independent galleries
and artists across Canada. She holds appointments in York
University’s Graduate Programs in Design, Communications &
Culture, Science & Technology Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies,
and Art History & Visual Culture.
Angela Norwood AIGA / RGD / IID
Department Chair, Associate Professor | MGD (Masters of Graphic Design) North Carolina State
University, USA | anorwood@yorku.ca
Angela Norwood’s research interests include exploring the
intersection of contemporary design practices and traditional
knowledge systems, for devising context-appropriate approaches
for environmentally and culturally sustainable outcomes.
Additionally, she has conducted research on improving the
design of scientific visualizations. Having served two terms as
Department Chair and as Graduate Program Director, Professor
Norwood teaches across the Design curriculum with an emphasis
on information design and visualization. She is the recipient of the
Dean’s Junior Faculty Teaching Award. As a former professional
graphic designer and art director in Chicago, IL and Raleigh, NC,
she worked with a varied range of national and international,
corporate and cultural clients. She has served as designer and
consultant on the global marketing team for Democrats Abroad,
an organization that empowers US citizens in 71 countries to
participate in US elections. Her scholarly work has been published
in design journals such as Visual Communication and Design &
Culture. Her professional work has been recognized by several
organizations and publications including the Type Directors Club,
Graphis and Communication Arts magazines and is included in the
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) National Design Archive.
Gabi Schaffzin
Assistant Professor | PhD University of California San Diego; MFA Massachusetts College of Art
& Design | gabis@yorku.ca
Gabi Schaffzin is an artist, educator, and researcher. He holds a
PhD in Art History, Theory, and Criticism, Art Practice Concentration
from the University of California San Diego, an MFA from the
Massachusetts College of Art & Design’s Dynamic Media Institute,
and a BS in Business Administration from Babson College in
Wellesley. His dissertation project, “Graphic Pain: A History of the
Tools Mediating Pain Quantification”, combined design history,
disability studies, and a history of computing to trace the history
of designed pain scales in the United States throughout the
20th century. His writing has appeared in the Review of Disability
Studies and PUBLIC and will be featured in the two forthcoming
volumes, Design for One: Post Universal Design, Disability and
the new Normal and Synapsis: Critical Readings in the Health and
Medical Humanities (both with Bloomsbury). He is on the organizing
committee for Theorizing the Web, an annual conference and
non-profit organization focused on facilitating discourse on tech
between scholars, activists, artists, and more.
Paul Sych
Associate Professor | paulsych@yorku.ca
Creating a new visual literacy fuels professor, designer and
typographer Paul Sych’s identity. His work spans over two decades
of graphic expression, innovation and exploration. Paul’s creative
design agency Faith was founded as a chrysalis of design discovery
producing prolific works in both digital and print spectrums.
Led by a penchant for distinctive typography and hand
illustration, Paul’s unique approach to language and imagery has
forged brand identities of compelling visual character and bold
presence – manipulating the retention of concepts, ideas, and
words, as well as refining the vocabulary of design in a company,
piece, or publication.
Paul’s work has been published in over 100+ books and
publications internationally. Highlights from his career include:
winning 100+ design awards since 2010, selected by the New
York Type Directors Club to judge the world’s most prestigious
typography competition and being featured by the design
journal Graphis which named him one of the Ten Masters of
Typography. In 2016, Paul’s work was featured in the book
The Typography Idea Book, Inspiration from 50 Masters by the
renowned graphic design journalist, author and critic Steven
Heller. Most recently, Paul was inducted to the Royal Society of
Canada (RSC) and was honoured as a fellow for his contributions
to research in design, art direction and typography.
Wendy Siuyi Wong
Professor | PhD Hong Kong Polytechnic University; MA Hong Kong Polytechnic University; BA Hong
Kong Polytechnic University | wsywong@yorku.ca
Wendy Siuyi Wong has established an international reputation as
an expert in Chinese comic art history and Chinese graphic design
history. She is the author of Hong Kong Comics: A History of Manhua
(2002), The Disappearance of Hong Kong in Comics, Advertising
and Graphic Design (2018), and the co-editor of Transnationalism in
East and Southeast Asian Comics Art (2022). In recognition of her
expertise in Chinese graphic design history, she was invited as a
contributor to The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design (2012) and the
Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Design (2016). She is a contributor and
a regional editor of the Greater China Region for the Encyclopedia
of East Asian Design (2020). In addition, Dr. Wong served as an
Editorial Board member of the Journal of Design History between
2012 and 2017, and as an Associate Editor for Design and Culture:
The Journal of the Design Studies Forum between 2019 and 2021.
Handbook 2023/2024
27
 Program Policy
Grading
No late projects will be accepted. All projects and exercises must
be turned in on the specific due date. Incomplete projects will not
be accepted or awarded a partial grade. If a project is not turned in
on time a grade of “F” will be recorded with a numerical equivalent
of “0” and averaged into your final grade.
Special considerations will be given, at the discretion of
the faculty, to late assignments with legitimate medical or
compassionate grounds. In such cases, students must obtain prior
approval from the course instructors. In case of emergencies,
students must contact the instructors immediately.
Redone Projects
At the discretion of the instructor, some projects may be redone. If a
student elects to redo a project, an entirely new approach/concept
must be developed and not simply correcting or refining
the original concept.
Pick up of Graded Projects
All graded projects must be picked up by the following dates:
Fall term – January 30
Winter term and Full Year – May 15
Summer term – September 15
Attendance and Lateness
Regular and punctual attendance is required professional behaviour
in industry and therefore in this program. Attendance will be taken
at the beginning of each class. Students are responsible for letting
faculty know ahead of time if they are going to be late for class, or
not attending.
Being late twice equals one absence. Lateness of more than
thirty minutes equals one absence. If a student is absent from four
classes during the term, a grade of “F” will be given for the course.
Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness,
compassionate grounds, etc., may be entertained by the course
instructor but will require supporting documentation (e.g. a doctor’s
letter).
Students will be responsible for all academic, financial penalties
and consequences resulting from their non-attendance.
Enrolment
Students cannot enrol into design courses more than one level
higher or lower than their study level. If students enrol in courses
for which they do not have the prerequisite and do not have written
permission on file with the Department of Design office, they may
be dropped from the course.
Auditing
Auditing is not allowed in York Program in Design studio or studies
courses.
York Program in Design
28
Studio and Equipment
Computer Health & Safety
Constant exposure to working with a computer can often pose
many difficulties. Eye, back, wrist, and arm injuries can occur – some
of which can be serious and long-lasting. At the beginning of each
term the technician will reacquaint you with proper safety precautions
that you must take to prevent injury. It is also most important to take
a ten-minute break each hour and do proper exercises.
Computer Facilities
Computer facilities are also classrooms. During normal class hours,
if you are not scheduled in a computer lab, you should not be there
without the consent of the instructor conducting their class.
Food
No food or drink is allowed in the computer facilities.
No food is allowed in the studios.
Spray Mounting and Cutting
No spray mounting allowed. All cutting must be done on designated
cutting tables or on cutting mats.
Technical Specifications and Software
All students entering the York Bachelor of Design Program are
required to have a laptop computer with them at University. Your
laptop will be the primary computer for specific design courses
and offers maximum flexibility to support studio production and
overall learning. Whether you are purchasing a new laptop or
already own one, ensure the technical specifications meet the
Adobe Creative Cloud requirements. The Department of Design
maintains an industry-standard Mac computing environment in
both hardware and software.
Recommended Supplies
• 12 x 18″ cutting matte OR 18 x 24″ cutting matte (preferred)
• 12″ steel edge with cork non skid backing OR 24″ steel edge with
cork non skid backing (preferred)
• 6″ bone folder
• Olfa 18mm heavy-duty utility knife w/locking knob (and extra blades)
• X-acto knife (comfort grip is better) (and extra blades)
• sketchbook (5 x 8″ is fine)
• 1 set square: 30°/60°/90° @ 12″ or 45° @ 10″
• H, HB pencils
• pencil sharpener
• white vinyl eraser
• black Sharpie marker
• black Fineliner marker
• scissors
• glue stick
• transparent scotch/magic tape
• removable scotch tape or masking tape
Essential Information for all DESN Students
Program Grading System
....
Grade Range Description
A+ 9 90–100% Rare and Exceptional work
Thorough knowledge of concepts and
techniques and exceptional skill and/
or/ great originality in the use of those
concepts/techniques in satisfying the
requirements of an assignment/course
A 8 80–89% Excellent Work Thorough
knowledge of concepts and techniques
together with a high degree of skill
and/or some elements of originality.
B+ 7 75–79% Very Good Work Thorough
knowledge of concepts and techniques
together with a fairly high degree
of skill and/or some elements of
originality.
B 6 70–74% Good Work Good level knowledge
of concepts and techniques together
with considerable skill
C+ 5 65–69% Competent Work Acceptable level
of knowledge of concepts and tech-
niques together with considerable skill
representing the student’s competence
to continue and the department’s wish
to have the student continue.
C 4 60–64% Fairly Competent Work
Acceptable level of knowledge of
concepts and techniques together with
some skill.
D+ 3 55–59% Passing Work Slightly better than
minimal knowledge of required con-
cepts and techniques together with
limited skill.
D 2 50–54% Poor Work Representing a lack
of effort or minimum knowledge of
concepts and techniques, despite
completion of required exercises.
E 1 31–49% Very Poor Work
F 0 0–30% Inadequate Work
All courses taken at York, including failures, are included in grade point
average calculations. To calculate your Grade Point Average please visit:
ampd.yorku.ca/current-students/academic-resources/gpa-calculator
Supplementary Year Program
....
The Supplementary Year Program allows students, whose life
circumstances prevent them from finishing their (Honours) degree
in four years, to take a reduced load/reduced fee fifth year of
study. This Supplementary Year is defined as an academic year
including the fall, winter, and summer terms. Students are expected
to complete the BDes Honours requirements by the end of this
Supplementary Year Program. Students are expected to enrol in
DESN 4000 6.0 Design Project, DESN 4201 1.5 Degree Exhibit
and DESN 4202 1.5 Professional Practices in Design as part of the
credits in this supplementary year—as these courses can only be
taken in one’s graduating year.
Eligibility
1. Any applicant must have completed four full years in the York
BDES (Honours) Program, or the equivalency of four years
through advanced standing status (at least 24 credits), in order
to be eligible for this program.
2. The applicant needs 18 credits or less to graduate and makes a
formal application by April 20, 2024.
3. Only the required number of credits needed to graduate may
be taken in the Supplementary Year.
Non-Eligibility
1. Students needing 18 credits or less to graduate after the
equivalent of three years if post-secondary education are not
eligible for the Supplementary Year Program.
2. Students entering their fifth year and needing more than 18
credits are required to pay the full program fee.
Application Procedure
The Supplementary Year Program becomes an active option
only when a student has applied and been formally approved
by the Department of Design and the School of the Arts, Media,
Performance & Design, Office of the Dean. Eligible students in such
circumstances must formally apply in writing to the Department
of Design. Application forms are available from the Department of
Design in 4008 DB.
Handbook 2023/2024
29
 Disclaimer Additional Information

The material contained in this publication has been submitted by Students should seek information by using websites established at
the administrative departments and academic units concerned. All York. Current information will be posted on the websites regularly.
general information and course references have been checked for For course descriptions, enrolment and registration information,
accuracy as far as possible. If errors or inconsistencies do occur, and course timetables giving class meeting times and catalogue
please bring these to the attention of the responsible department. enrolment numbers, students should access yorku.ca.
York University reserves the right to make changes in the
information contained in this publication without prior notice. Not Information regarding the York Program in Design is available at:
every course listed in this publication need necessarily be offered design.ampd.yorku.ca
in any given academic year.
It is the responsibility of all students to be familiar with the That website is linked to: ampd.yorku.ca and other important
specific requirements associated with the degree, diploma, or information for DESN students.
certificate sought. While advice and counselling are available, it
is the responsibility of each student to ensure that the courses Important information on student and computing policies (e.g.
in which registration is effected are appropriate to the program academic honesty) is available for student access at the following
requirements of the student’s Faculty. address: yorku.ca/secretariat/policies
It is the responsibility of all students to be familiar with
regulations concerning the conduct of students (and to abide by Students are advised to familiarize themselves with all of the
such as a member of the University). policies and information available.
The University reserves the right to limit enrolment in any
program. Students should be aware that enrolment in many
programs and courses is limited. While the University will make
every reasonable effort to offer courses and classes as required
within programs, prospective students should note that admission
to a degree or other program does not guarantee admission to
any given course or class.

Every student agrees by the act of registration to be bound by the

regulations and policies of York University and those of the faculty
in which that student is registered.

In the event of an inconsistency between the general academic

regulations and policies published, and such regulations and policies
as established by the York Faculty and Senate, the version of such
material as established by those bodies shall prevail.
In addition to the foregoing, York University shall incur no liability
for loss or damage suffered or incurred by any student or third
party as a result of delays in or termination of services, courses or
classes by reason of: Acts of God, fire, floods, riots, war, strikes,
lock-outs, damage to University property, financial exigency, or
other happenings or occurrences beyond the reasonable control
of the University.
York University is a smoke-free institution.
York Program in Design

30
Important Dates

Fall/Winter 2023–2024 Schedule of Fall/Winter Holidays and School Closings

September 6 Fall Classes Start September 4 Labour Day – University Closed

Oct. 7 – 13 Fall Reading Week October 9 Thanksgiving – University Closed
December 5 Fall Classes End Dec. 22 – Jan. 1 Winter Break – University Closed
December 7 Fall Exams Start February 19 Family Day – University Closed
December 20 Fall Exams End March 29 Good Friday – University Closed

January 8 Winter Classes Start (Resume) https://registrar.yorku.ca/enrol/dates/2023-2024/fall-winter

Feb. 17 – 23 Winter Reading Week
April 8 Winter Classes End
April 10 Winter Exams Start
April 25 Winter Exams End

Add, Drop and Course Withdrawal Period

Deadline Information

Last date to enrol without permission of course instructor

September 20 Fall and Year
January 22 Winter

Last date to enrol with permission of course instructor

September 28 Fall
September 28 Year
January 31 Winter

Last date to drop courses without receiving a grade

November 8 Fall
February 8 Year
March 11 Winter

Course Withdrawal Period (Withdraw from a course and receive a

grade of “W” on transcript)
The withdrawal will not affect your grade point average or count
towards the credits required for your degree
Nov. 9 – Dec. 5 Fall
Feb. 9 – Apr. 8 Year
Mar. 12 – Apr 8 Winter

Handbook 2023/2024

Cover Design and Artwork by April Dang (BDes ‘25)

Class of 2023 photo by Volker Ng (BDes ‘24)
Interior photography by Marija Bacic (MDes ‘20)

31
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